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sousaphone

noun
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sou·​sa·​phone | \ ˈsü-zə-ˌfōn How to pronounce sousaphone (audio) , -sə- \

Definition of sousaphone

: a large circular tuba that has a flared adjustable bell — compare helicon

Illustration of sousaphone

Illustration of sousaphone

Examples of sousaphone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And the old-timey feel of the event, with young musicians in tasseled hats and spangly shorts, and the sousaphone bell glinting in the sun, were all intentional. — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, "With a brass band blaring, artist Kehinde Wiley goes off to war with Confederate statues," 27 Sep. 2019 Even the guy wearing a 50-pound sousaphone glides about the stage with poise. — Morena Duwe, Billboard, "Meet Meute, the German Marching Band That Plays Only Electronic Music Covers," 11 Dec. 2019 The sonorous rumble of a sousaphone laid down the low end, while cymbals, hi-hats, snare drums and bass drum offered the dynamic beats that elevate dance-floor denizens like a drug. — Morena Duwe, Billboard, "Meet Meute, the German Marching Band That Plays Only Electronic Music Covers," 11 Dec. 2019 Drummer Phelps and sousaphone player Gearl Stephens are the longest-tenured members. — David Lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "Pork & Beans Brass Band sounds off for New Orleans style in Indiana," 17 Oct. 2019 Band instruments range from $700 for the smaller ones — such as oboes and piccolos — to $7,000 for larger instruments such as tubas and sousaphones, Hart said. — Martin E. Comas, orlandosentinel.com, "East Ridge High band officials say show will go on despite fire," 11 Sep. 2019 Dozens of monochromatically clad dancers joined Bey, along with a drumline with sousaphone and trombone players. — Danielle Jackson, Longreads, "Why Beyoncé Placed HBCU’s at the Center of American Life," 7 May 2018 In an interview this week, Mr. Jaffe, 47, Preservation Hall’s creative director, said his band’s signature sousaphone was returned on Monday. — Matt Stevens, New York Times, "Yes, People Actually Steal Tubas. Sometimes They Even Return Them.," 16 Mar. 2018 Ben Jaffe in happier times with his Mario Corso sousaphone, now missing, during a Preservation Hall Jazz Band tour last year. — Jennifer Levitz, WSJ, "There’s a Tuba Crime Wave Sweeping America," 7 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sousaphone.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of sousaphone

1925, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for sousaphone

John Philip Sousa

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Time Traveler for sousaphone

Time Traveler

The first known use of sousaphone was in 1925

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Statistics for sousaphone

Last Updated

13 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Sousaphone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sousaphone. Accessed 25 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for sousaphone

sousaphone

noun
sou·​sa·​phone | \ ˈsü-zə-ˌfōn How to pronounce sousaphone (audio) , -sə- \

Kids Definition of sousaphone

: a large circular tuba designed to rest on the player's shoulder and used chiefly in marching bands

More from Merriam-Webster on sousaphone

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with sousaphone

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sousaphone

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